Interview with Fenella Fielding (2018)
Fenella Fielding was born in 1927 as Fenella Marion Feldman in London.
Fenella began her acting career in 1952, concentrating on stage theatrical productions. She was given her first break when she accompanied the then unknown actor Ron Moody to an audition. By 1959 she was appearing with Kenneth Williams in the Harold Pinter comedy revue 'Pieces of Eight'.
However, possibly her most famous role was as 'Valeria Watt', opposite Kenneth Williams, in 'Carry On Screaming' in 1966. Fenella had already had a minor role as 'Penny Panting' in 'Carry On Regardless' in 1961 but her role in 'Screaming' five years later was to go onto be one of the most famous & memorable roles in the whole 'Carry On' series.
Historically secretive about her age, in 2017 after her memoirs 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' were published Fenella revealed that she was in fact in her 90th year.
Fenella began her acting career in 1952, concentrating on stage theatrical productions. She was given her first break when she accompanied the then unknown actor Ron Moody to an audition. By 1959 she was appearing with Kenneth Williams in the Harold Pinter comedy revue 'Pieces of Eight'.
However, possibly her most famous role was as 'Valeria Watt', opposite Kenneth Williams, in 'Carry On Screaming' in 1966. Fenella had already had a minor role as 'Penny Panting' in 'Carry On Regardless' in 1961 but her role in 'Screaming' five years later was to go onto be one of the most famous & memorable roles in the whole 'Carry On' series.
Historically secretive about her age, in 2017 after her memoirs 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?' were published Fenella revealed that she was in fact in her 90th year.
She is still a regular at many film conventions all over the country & she has a firm and loyal fan base. She is a phenomenal storyteller & has one of the most unique & distinctive looks & voices of her generation. I have met Fenella many times, the first time being at Pinewood Studios in 2005 where she was a delight, adorned in her trademark gothic getup complete with a glass dickie bow! She hasn't always had it easy, in fact her personal life has had more than it's fair share of heartache & tragedy over the years & you can read all about this fascinating lady in her new memoirs 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?'. In late March 2018 I had the opportunity to pose some questions to Fenella to mark the 60th Anniversary of 'Carry On':
CP: ‘Carry On Screaming’ was your last ‘Carry On’. Why did you not do anymore after ‘Screaming’?
FF: I turned down ‘Carry On Cleo’ before 'Screaming’ because I was madly in love with somebody and wanted to go to New York to see him. I was asked to do ‘Carry On Camping’ after 'Screaming' but I didn't like the look of it.
CP: You starred alongside Kenneth Williams in ‘Screaming’ playing his sister. It is well known that you didn’t always get on and that Kenneth was a very complex and, at times, acidic character – was the relationship on a professional level different to on a personal level?
FF: It's difficult thing to answer because what he wanted for the show that we did in 1959, was that it be called 'Kenneth Williams in Pieces of Eight'... so him and the name of the show, but because of 'Valmouth', the show I had just been in which did such extraordinary things for me, it would have to be Kenneth Williams & Fenella Fielding with equal billing. Apparently, he was very angry about it but I didn't know that till afterwards. He managed to sallow that but at the same time made life very uncomfortable for me. With shared billing, you share everything. You can’t say, 'Oh, but I'm the top one' not if our names appear on the same top line. I don't think he ever got over that. The fact is, I more or less had to do what he wanted. If I had any solo stuff it was stuff he couldn't have been in. We had equal billing on the ‘Carry On Screaming’ posters later on too. That was all fine though. By then, it was all nice chats off set. Sometimes he'd get tired and he'd have to go and lie down just like his character, Dr Watt, in the film.
FF: I turned down ‘Carry On Cleo’ before 'Screaming’ because I was madly in love with somebody and wanted to go to New York to see him. I was asked to do ‘Carry On Camping’ after 'Screaming' but I didn't like the look of it.
CP: You starred alongside Kenneth Williams in ‘Screaming’ playing his sister. It is well known that you didn’t always get on and that Kenneth was a very complex and, at times, acidic character – was the relationship on a professional level different to on a personal level?
FF: It's difficult thing to answer because what he wanted for the show that we did in 1959, was that it be called 'Kenneth Williams in Pieces of Eight'... so him and the name of the show, but because of 'Valmouth', the show I had just been in which did such extraordinary things for me, it would have to be Kenneth Williams & Fenella Fielding with equal billing. Apparently, he was very angry about it but I didn't know that till afterwards. He managed to sallow that but at the same time made life very uncomfortable for me. With shared billing, you share everything. You can’t say, 'Oh, but I'm the top one' not if our names appear on the same top line. I don't think he ever got over that. The fact is, I more or less had to do what he wanted. If I had any solo stuff it was stuff he couldn't have been in. We had equal billing on the ‘Carry On Screaming’ posters later on too. That was all fine though. By then, it was all nice chats off set. Sometimes he'd get tired and he'd have to go and lie down just like his character, Dr Watt, in the film.
Above: Fenella adds her autograph to my 'Carry On Screaming' DVD.
CP: This year marks the 30th anniversary of Kenneth’s death. You had quite an ‘interesting’ relationship with Kenneth over the years. When did you last see him?
FF: Very difficult to remember... probably the late 1970s. I think things were quite nice between us by then. Certainly that day it was.
CP: It is remarkable that 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of ‘Carry On’. It seems that they remain as popular as ever?
FF: I wasn't in the first one of course. I was in ‘Carry On Regardless’, which was a bit later. I had a scene with Kenneth Connor. I do think this ongoing interest is amazing. It's lovely really.
CP: There has been a lot of talk over the past few years of a ‘Carry On’ revival with new films planned. What are your thoughts on that?
FF: Funny how that's gone very quiet since they first announced it. Is it still happening?
CP: You are now immortalised in art having your own caricature in ‘The Carryoons’. Do you like it?
FF: I don't mind it, in fact I must quite like it because I have one of them framed and on my wall. I seem to be lying on a red couch. People will think that I never stand up, but I do!
FF: Very difficult to remember... probably the late 1970s. I think things were quite nice between us by then. Certainly that day it was.
CP: It is remarkable that 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of ‘Carry On’. It seems that they remain as popular as ever?
FF: I wasn't in the first one of course. I was in ‘Carry On Regardless’, which was a bit later. I had a scene with Kenneth Connor. I do think this ongoing interest is amazing. It's lovely really.
CP: There has been a lot of talk over the past few years of a ‘Carry On’ revival with new films planned. What are your thoughts on that?
FF: Funny how that's gone very quiet since they first announced it. Is it still happening?
CP: You are now immortalised in art having your own caricature in ‘The Carryoons’. Do you like it?
FF: I don't mind it, in fact I must quite like it because I have one of them framed and on my wall. I seem to be lying on a red couch. People will think that I never stand up, but I do!
Top Left: A rare publicity photograph of Fenella as 'Valeria Watt' from 'Carry On Screaming' courtesy of Morris Bright MBE.
My sincere thanks & gratitude to Fenella for her contribution for this special section & also to Simon McKay for arranging this.
It is with great sadness that Fenella sadly passed away on the 11th September 2018 after a short illness.
Having met Fenella several times over the years she was just as you would expect; professional, mysterious, fabulous and a little naughty! She was always a delight with fans and had a big fan base.
She was still 'carrying on' with her personal appearances, reciting sections from her autobiography 'Do You Mind if I Smoke?', right up until a few weeks before her death.
A true gem in the crown of British showbiz, she will be greatly missed. God bless darrrrling.
Fenella Fielding 1927 - 2018
Bernard Cribbins, OBE was in three 'Carry On's'; 'Carry On Jack' (1963), 'Carry On Spying' (1964), & 'Carry On Columbus' (1992). He is a well loved character actor, voice-over artist & musical comedian with a career spanning over seventy years.
Born in Derker, Oldham, Lancashire, Cribbins served an apprenticeship at the Oldham Repertory Theatre. In 1947, he interrupted his apprenticeship to undertake national service with the Parachute Regiment in Aldershot & in British-administered Mandatory Palestine.
Bernard has a firm & loyal fanbase due to his work spanning various hit shows and films such as 'The Wombles', 'Doctor Who', 'The Railway Children' and the 'Carry On' films to name a few.
He received an OBE in the 2011 Birthday Honours for his services to drama.
In early 2018 I caught up with Bernie to chat about his memories & time working on the 'Carry On' films & with the 'Carry On' team.
Born in Derker, Oldham, Lancashire, Cribbins served an apprenticeship at the Oldham Repertory Theatre. In 1947, he interrupted his apprenticeship to undertake national service with the Parachute Regiment in Aldershot & in British-administered Mandatory Palestine.
Bernard has a firm & loyal fanbase due to his work spanning various hit shows and films such as 'The Wombles', 'Doctor Who', 'The Railway Children' and the 'Carry On' films to name a few.
He received an OBE in the 2011 Birthday Honours for his services to drama.
In early 2018 I caught up with Bernie to chat about his memories & time working on the 'Carry On' films & with the 'Carry On' team.
CP: Do you have any special memories of the Carry On team?
BC: Sid was a lovely man. I didn’t work with him on a ‘Carry On’ but we did work together. Lovely man. Kenny Williams was the biggest show off ever! He always had to be the centre of attention. I warned Barbara about him on her first day on ‘Spying’. I said, ‘watch Kenny, he loves to have a dig’. Of course, he did and the now famous story of her standing up to him whilst he had ‘Fenella Fielding’s minge hair’ around his mouth is well known!
CP: What was it like to work on a ‘Carry On’?
BC: It was very intensive work. There was no time to rehearse and it was all a very basic set up. Normally two takes and that was your lot. It was very ‘factory’ orientated. I remember on ‘Jack’ I was doing a scene as ‘Midshipman Poop-Decker’ and it was with Cecil Parker as the Sealord. I said to Gerry (the director), can I just look back and smile at him at that point? Gerry replied ‘No, as soon as your hand is on the door handle I’ve cut and moved onto the next scene of you coming out of the door’. That is what it was like.
BC: Sid was a lovely man. I didn’t work with him on a ‘Carry On’ but we did work together. Lovely man. Kenny Williams was the biggest show off ever! He always had to be the centre of attention. I warned Barbara about him on her first day on ‘Spying’. I said, ‘watch Kenny, he loves to have a dig’. Of course, he did and the now famous story of her standing up to him whilst he had ‘Fenella Fielding’s minge hair’ around his mouth is well known!
CP: What was it like to work on a ‘Carry On’?
BC: It was very intensive work. There was no time to rehearse and it was all a very basic set up. Normally two takes and that was your lot. It was very ‘factory’ orientated. I remember on ‘Jack’ I was doing a scene as ‘Midshipman Poop-Decker’ and it was with Cecil Parker as the Sealord. I said to Gerry (the director), can I just look back and smile at him at that point? Gerry replied ‘No, as soon as your hand is on the door handle I’ve cut and moved onto the next scene of you coming out of the door’. That is what it was like.
Above: A birthday note to me from Bernie (2016);
CP: It is the 30th anniversary this year (2018) of Kenneth’s death. What was he like?
BC: Kenny was somewhat acidic. He would often have something to say about everyone. For example, Charlie (Hawtrey) would walk on set and he would say ‘Oh Christ, she’s pissed again’. The last time I saw Kenny was actually at Pinewood. It wasn’t during a Carry On. We were on opposite sides of the corridor and as he passed me he quipped ‘Oh God, you don’t change do you’. Very cryptic. It was a very cryptic thing to say.
CP: It is. Particularly as I assume there had been no previous ‘problems’?
BC: No, exactly. I always thought how very cryptic.
CP: So, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Carry On. What do you think the stars of the series who sadly aren’t with us any longer would make of the ongoing popularity of the series?
BC: Well, I think they all might think the same thing, what a great shame I didn’t have a piece of the action! (referring to the well known low pay and lack of any residuals from the films). The money was dreadful.
CP: I know. In fact, you are the second person to tell me that in as many days! I spoke with Bill Maynard this week and he pretty much said the same thing to me!
BC: Ah Bill (laughs). We did a show together called ‘Dangerous Davies’. I was ‘Dangerous’. I always remember one day on a break from filming he was sat in the caravan reading the paper. I went in to get changed between scenes and said, ‘I’m knackered Bill’. He glanced up from his paper and replied ‘well, you said you could do it when you wrote in!’ (laughs). I love that.
BC: Kenny was somewhat acidic. He would often have something to say about everyone. For example, Charlie (Hawtrey) would walk on set and he would say ‘Oh Christ, she’s pissed again’. The last time I saw Kenny was actually at Pinewood. It wasn’t during a Carry On. We were on opposite sides of the corridor and as he passed me he quipped ‘Oh God, you don’t change do you’. Very cryptic. It was a very cryptic thing to say.
CP: It is. Particularly as I assume there had been no previous ‘problems’?
BC: No, exactly. I always thought how very cryptic.
CP: So, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Carry On. What do you think the stars of the series who sadly aren’t with us any longer would make of the ongoing popularity of the series?
BC: Well, I think they all might think the same thing, what a great shame I didn’t have a piece of the action! (referring to the well known low pay and lack of any residuals from the films). The money was dreadful.
CP: I know. In fact, you are the second person to tell me that in as many days! I spoke with Bill Maynard this week and he pretty much said the same thing to me!
BC: Ah Bill (laughs). We did a show together called ‘Dangerous Davies’. I was ‘Dangerous’. I always remember one day on a break from filming he was sat in the caravan reading the paper. I went in to get changed between scenes and said, ‘I’m knackered Bill’. He glanced up from his paper and replied ‘well, you said you could do it when you wrote in!’ (laughs). I love that.
My 'Carry On Columbus' DVD cover design signed by Bernie.
CP: Now, ‘Carry On Columbus’?
BC: Well, that was a disaster.
CP: Well to be fair I personally don’t think it was as bad as a lot of people make out. It is big in Australia. You can readily get it on DVD over there and the USA but not in the UK?
BC: (Laughs), well Australia, now that’s a completely different thing you see.
CP: What are your thoughts on all the rumours over the years of resurrecting the ‘Carry On’ films?
BC: It wouldn’t work. You would have to call it something different or it wouldn’t work. You could apply the same formula, but it would have to have a different title?
CP: Do you still attend many events and conventions these days?
BC: I do, if they are convenient for me. If you are around, you will have to come over and say ‘hi’.
If I am ever in your neck of the woods I will come and find you and we can go fishing (laughs) (Bernie is a keen fisherman).
My thanks & gratitude to Bernard Cribbins for taking the time to share his memories & talking to me for this feature for the website
BC: Well, that was a disaster.
CP: Well to be fair I personally don’t think it was as bad as a lot of people make out. It is big in Australia. You can readily get it on DVD over there and the USA but not in the UK?
BC: (Laughs), well Australia, now that’s a completely different thing you see.
CP: What are your thoughts on all the rumours over the years of resurrecting the ‘Carry On’ films?
BC: It wouldn’t work. You would have to call it something different or it wouldn’t work. You could apply the same formula, but it would have to have a different title?
CP: Do you still attend many events and conventions these days?
BC: I do, if they are convenient for me. If you are around, you will have to come over and say ‘hi’.
If I am ever in your neck of the woods I will come and find you and we can go fishing (laughs) (Bernie is a keen fisherman).
My thanks & gratitude to Bernard Cribbins for taking the time to share his memories & talking to me for this feature for the website
Angela was born in Gerrads Cross, Buckinghamshire in 1940.
She started acting as a teenager, joining the Worthing, West Sussex repertory company, before making her West End theatre debut in 1958.
She is best remembered for her roles in the 'Carry On' films in the 1960s, starting with 'Carry On Cowboy' (1965), as an all-singing and trigger-happy version of 'Annie Oakley'. She then appeared in 'Carry On Screaming!' (1966), 'Follow That Camel' (1967) & finished with 'Carry On Up the Khyber' (1968).
On a wet & dreary morning in January I caught up with her to chat about her memories of her time working on the iconic series:
She started acting as a teenager, joining the Worthing, West Sussex repertory company, before making her West End theatre debut in 1958.
She is best remembered for her roles in the 'Carry On' films in the 1960s, starting with 'Carry On Cowboy' (1965), as an all-singing and trigger-happy version of 'Annie Oakley'. She then appeared in 'Carry On Screaming!' (1966), 'Follow That Camel' (1967) & finished with 'Carry On Up the Khyber' (1968).
On a wet & dreary morning in January I caught up with her to chat about her memories of her time working on the iconic series:
CP: Hi Angela, how have you been?
AD: I’m made up with cold so sorry for sniffing, I hope you can hear me ok!
CP: This year marks the 60th anniversary of ‘Carry On’, can you believe it?
AD: 60 years? so…it would have started in 1958? I didn’t come into them though, or had heard about them, until 1965 when I did ‘Cowboy’.
CP: So, prior to your involvement you hadn’t really heard about the series?
AD: No, not at all.
CP: You worked with some big names on them back then. Kenneth Williams, Harry H Corbett, Phil Silvers. What was Kenneth like?
AD: Outrageous. Funny. Very articulate and highly intelligent.
AD: I’m made up with cold so sorry for sniffing, I hope you can hear me ok!
CP: This year marks the 60th anniversary of ‘Carry On’, can you believe it?
AD: 60 years? so…it would have started in 1958? I didn’t come into them though, or had heard about them, until 1965 when I did ‘Cowboy’.
CP: So, prior to your involvement you hadn’t really heard about the series?
AD: No, not at all.
CP: You worked with some big names on them back then. Kenneth Williams, Harry H Corbett, Phil Silvers. What was Kenneth like?
AD: Outrageous. Funny. Very articulate and highly intelligent.
Above: Angela as 'Doris Mann' in 'Carry On Screaming!' (1966)
Above: Angela as 'Annie Oakley' in 'Carry On Cowboy' (1965) alongside Sid James in her first 'Carry On' role.
CP: What was it like working with Harry H on ‘Screaming’? He was quite obviously in the Sid James role?
AD: It didn’t really work with Harry H. He was very pleasant, but he was the ‘new boy’.
CP: I understand that the part was written for Sid, but he was working on something else at the time?
AD: Well, there was a rumour that Sid was originally planned for the part, but he had asked for more money. He was the highest paid already.
CP: You actually appeared in some of the most popular in the series both with fans and the actors, ‘Khyber’, ‘Screaming’ & ‘Cowboy’?
AD: Well ‘Khyber’ was always voted the favourite wasn’t it?
CP: It was but ‘Screaming’ also comes very high on polls that have been carried out over the years.
AD: It didn’t really work with Harry H. He was very pleasant, but he was the ‘new boy’.
CP: I understand that the part was written for Sid, but he was working on something else at the time?
AD: Well, there was a rumour that Sid was originally planned for the part, but he had asked for more money. He was the highest paid already.
CP: You actually appeared in some of the most popular in the series both with fans and the actors, ‘Khyber’, ‘Screaming’ & ‘Cowboy’?
AD: Well ‘Khyber’ was always voted the favourite wasn’t it?
CP: It was but ‘Screaming’ also comes very high on polls that have been carried out over the years.
AD: ‘Screaming’? Really?
CP: What was it like working with Phil Silvers on ‘Follow That Camel’?
AD: It was very much like Harry H Corbett, he was the new boy and it didn’t really work.
CP: I personally was not a fan of Phil Silvers, but I do like ‘Follow That Camel’.
AD: If you remember him in ‘Bilko’ & liked that you may have liked it. The first time that I was introduced to him on the set he was sat in front of a roaring fire with a big coat on and he said to me ‘Angela, have you ever been constipated?’. He was a very unhappy man by that stage. He was homesick, and his marriage was breaking up.
CP: We mentioned ‘Khyber’ earlier; that was your last ‘Carry On’. Why was that? Did you want to move on?
AD: No, it was because I was actually trying for a baby and my doctor and husband wanted me to take some time off and stay at home, so that was the reason really. I never went back to it after that. But then again, why did Juliette Mills stop? She is a wonderful actress but only did the one (Carry On Jack) which she was wonderful in.
CP: Good question, I suppose you could say the same for a lot of people associated with the series.
CP: We have heard year after year of a planned resurrection with some new ‘Carry On’s’ being planned, what are your thoughts on this proposal?
AD: Rumour, it has always been rumour. I think they would be daft to try though.
CP: In summary, what was your experience of your time on the ‘Carry On’s’?
AD: It was a very joyous and happy experience! The team were all so supportive to me. Peter Butterworth was a lovely man. I had a lovely friendship with him and I am still in touch with his son, Tyler. Joan Sims was a wonderful actress. A very sad and quite a lonely lady though. You should also speak with Anita Harris, lovely girl and Amanda Barrie.
CP: What was it like working with Phil Silvers on ‘Follow That Camel’?
AD: It was very much like Harry H Corbett, he was the new boy and it didn’t really work.
CP: I personally was not a fan of Phil Silvers, but I do like ‘Follow That Camel’.
AD: If you remember him in ‘Bilko’ & liked that you may have liked it. The first time that I was introduced to him on the set he was sat in front of a roaring fire with a big coat on and he said to me ‘Angela, have you ever been constipated?’. He was a very unhappy man by that stage. He was homesick, and his marriage was breaking up.
CP: We mentioned ‘Khyber’ earlier; that was your last ‘Carry On’. Why was that? Did you want to move on?
AD: No, it was because I was actually trying for a baby and my doctor and husband wanted me to take some time off and stay at home, so that was the reason really. I never went back to it after that. But then again, why did Juliette Mills stop? She is a wonderful actress but only did the one (Carry On Jack) which she was wonderful in.
CP: Good question, I suppose you could say the same for a lot of people associated with the series.
CP: We have heard year after year of a planned resurrection with some new ‘Carry On’s’ being planned, what are your thoughts on this proposal?
AD: Rumour, it has always been rumour. I think they would be daft to try though.
CP: In summary, what was your experience of your time on the ‘Carry On’s’?
AD: It was a very joyous and happy experience! The team were all so supportive to me. Peter Butterworth was a lovely man. I had a lovely friendship with him and I am still in touch with his son, Tyler. Joan Sims was a wonderful actress. A very sad and quite a lonely lady though. You should also speak with Anita Harris, lovely girl and Amanda Barrie.
Above (Top): Angela & I at the NEC in Birmingham in 2016. Above (Bottom): Angela adds her autograph to my 'Carry On Up The Khyber' DVD sleeve, alongside Peter Rogers, Wanda Ventham, Alexandra Dane, Harry Fielder & Dinny Powell.
CP: I understand that Amanda is currently in the ‘Big Brother’ house.
AD: Oh, is she? Oh heck.
CP: Not for you?
AD: No, although I would like to do the jungle! (I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here).
CP: Would you? (laughs)
AD: Oh yes, I’d do that.
CP: What are you working on at present?
AD: I am actually editing my latest book, so it is nice to be able to sit around in my pyjamas working, especially when it is cold and raining outside!
My thanks & gratitude to Angela Douglas for taking the time to share her memories & talking to me for this feature for the website.
AD: Oh, is she? Oh heck.
CP: Not for you?
AD: No, although I would like to do the jungle! (I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here).
CP: Would you? (laughs)
AD: Oh yes, I’d do that.
CP: What are you working on at present?
AD: I am actually editing my latest book, so it is nice to be able to sit around in my pyjamas working, especially when it is cold and raining outside!
My thanks & gratitude to Angela Douglas for taking the time to share her memories & talking to me for this feature for the website.
Some rare & unseen pictures of Angela from her time on the 'Carry On' films. Courtesy of Peter Rogers & Morris Bright MBE.
Above (left to right): On the set of 'Carry On Follow That Camel' (1967) alongside Kenneth Williams, Phil Silvers & Jim Dale; A portrait publicity shot from 'Carry On Screaming' (1966); Sheltering from a wet 'Khyber Pass' with Joan Sims in 'Carry On Up The Khyber' (1968).
RADA trained Patricia Franklin was born in 1942 in London. She is best known for her apperances throughout the 'Golden Era' of the 'Carry On' films. Playing a varierty of parts from pregnant blond beauty in 'Carry On Camping' (1969) alongside Terry Scott, Derek Francis and Charles Hawtrey to a woman liberator alongside June Whitfield in 'Carry On Girls' (1973). Her final 'Carry On' outing was as 'Corporal Cook' in 'Carry On England' (1976).
Years later she had minor roles in another successful comedy series known as the 'Cornetto Triliogy' - 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004), 'Hot Fuz'z (2007) & 'The World's End' (2013) as her daughter was engaged to a the director of 'Shaun of the Dead' - Edgar Wright.
In May 2018 I had the pleasure of catching up with Patricia who I had in fact bumped into again a few weeks earlier the the launch of 'The Kenneth Williams Companion' at Elstree Studios, London on the 15th April 2018.
CP: Carry On Camping was the first one that you did, how did that come about?
PF: I had just left RADA that summer and had been on holiday. When I returned I had three auditions lined up. The one I actually got was a farce called ‘Uproar in the House’. Joan Sims was in it as a leading lady alongside Nicholas Parsons and Peter Butterworth as the leading men. There were a lot of comedy actors in it in fact of that time and it went onto be a huge success. The ‘Carry On’ people (Peter Rogers & Gerald Thomas) came to see Joan and Peter and that is where they first saw me. I was playing a young office girl. In the second half of the show I was supposed to be trying to sell a house. I had to stay overnight in the house and it was all a farce with people coming in and out of my room all night. I was only wearing a tiny bra and pants! My big scene was at the end and that is where they really spotted me. My agent then got a call a short time later and I was taken to the location where they were filming ‘Carry On Camping’. I met Gerald formally and we had a chat. He said, “Would you like to be in a Carry On?”. I said YES PLEASE!
CP: What a great story, what were the ‘team’ like with you on that first one?
PF: Oh, they were all so professional. Peter Butterworth and Joan Sims of course knew me from the show and were so lovely to me.
CP: Kenny Williams was known to be ‘prickly’ particularly with ‘newbies’. How was he with you?
PF: He was lovely to me, he really was. I remember during ‘Camping’ that one day I was sat with Barbara and Joan in Barbara’s dressing room I think. He was pacing about outside and so I asked Joan if she would introduce me. She said “I won’t at the minute darling as I don't know how he's going to be. He knows who you are and he'll be in here in a minute." Eventually he walked into the dressing room, looked at me and said, “Whose she then?”, we were then formally introduced, and he was great with me.
PF: Oh, they were all so professional. Peter Butterworth and Joan Sims of course knew me from the show and were so lovely to me.
CP: Kenny Williams was known to be ‘prickly’ particularly with ‘newbies’. How was he with you?
PF: He was lovely to me, he really was. I remember during ‘Camping’ that one day I was sat with Barbara and Joan in Barbara’s dressing room I think. He was pacing about outside and so I asked Joan if she would introduce me. She said “I won’t at the minute darling as I don't know how he's going to be. He knows who you are and he'll be in here in a minute." Eventually he walked into the dressing room, looked at me and said, “Whose she then?”, we were then formally introduced, and he was great with me.
Above: Patricia adds her autograph to my 'Carry On Loving' (1970) DVD sleeve.
Above: It's 'Carry On' and Bust! Patricia adds her autograph to my 'Carry On Gilrls' (1973) DVD sleeve.
A few years later whilst we were filming ‘Loving’ I had a scene with him and Bill Maynard. I always remember it as I was supposed to be getting irate with Bill over something and after the first attempt Gerald said to me “Come on Patricia, give me more!”. Kenneth was also egging me on and said, “We don’t want none of that Royal Court naturalistic acting round here!”. So, I did it again with real gusto and it was brilliant. Kenneth said to Gerald “Ooh Gerald! She reminds me of Mags!”. I had no idea what he meant and so asked Gerald afterwards. Gerald said, “That was a great compliment, he was referring to his friend Maggie Smith”. I was so flattered! After the scene I remember I started to walk off with Bill and his son for lunch. Kenneth came up to me and said “Oh, you don’t want to be going for lunch with him” and insisted I went with him. I did so, and I was introduced to people I didn’t even know, it was lovely. I remember that we had Roger Moore and Britt Eckland come up to our table as they were also filming Bond there at the same time.
CP: You did 5 in total, were you asked to do any others that you couldn’t do?
PF: I was yes, I was asked to be in one where I was supposed to be playing a ‘Night Nurse’. But I was pregnant and also had other commitments with work at the Royal Court and a TV series, so I couldn’t do it.
CP: I am guessing that the part was maybe for either ‘Carry On Again Doctor’ in 1969 or ‘Carry On Matron’ in 1972?
PF: I am trying to remember the year and what I was doing. I know I had been up in Sheffield at the time and it was after ‘Camping’. I was in a very demanding play at the Royal Court in 1969 called ‘Saved’ by Edward Bond. A very different role to the Carry Ons!
CP: Ah ok, so that would suggest it would have been for ‘Again Doctor’.
PF: Yes, it would have been.
PF: I was yes, I was asked to be in one where I was supposed to be playing a ‘Night Nurse’. But I was pregnant and also had other commitments with work at the Royal Court and a TV series, so I couldn’t do it.
CP: I am guessing that the part was maybe for either ‘Carry On Again Doctor’ in 1969 or ‘Carry On Matron’ in 1972?
PF: I am trying to remember the year and what I was doing. I know I had been up in Sheffield at the time and it was after ‘Camping’. I was in a very demanding play at the Royal Court in 1969 called ‘Saved’ by Edward Bond. A very different role to the Carry Ons!
CP: Ah ok, so that would suggest it would have been for ‘Again Doctor’.
PF: Yes, it would have been.
CP: Your last entry to the series was with ‘Carry On England’ in 1976. Did you know at that stage that the series was winding down?
PF: No, we didn’t know it was coming to an end although I am not fond of ‘England’ to ne honest. I had quite a few lines but only one ended up being kept in. The film was coarse to me and had more nudity. It wasn’t the naughty seaside postcard formula that the other were.
CP: I have to ask as I find it quite curious; they tried to resurrect the series again in 1992 with the doomed ‘Carry On Columbus’. Having spoken with a lot of the original actors from the original series they all maintain they weren’t asked to be in it? I know Amanda Barrie once told me that she couldn’t understand why they weren’t approached?
PF: I know I wasn’t approached but yes, that does seem strange. I admit I have not seen that one all the way through. That is the one with Julian Clary in it isn’t it?
CP: Yes, and the alternative comedians they brought into it.
PF: The trouble is that the ‘Carry On’s’ are on TV all the time and are so well known all over the world. It was always going to be hard for anyone coming into a revival as people would simply be comparing them to the original team.
CP: So, you don’t think we will ever see a new ‘Carry On’ film as is often muted every few years?
PF: No, we didn’t know it was coming to an end although I am not fond of ‘England’ to ne honest. I had quite a few lines but only one ended up being kept in. The film was coarse to me and had more nudity. It wasn’t the naughty seaside postcard formula that the other were.
CP: I have to ask as I find it quite curious; they tried to resurrect the series again in 1992 with the doomed ‘Carry On Columbus’. Having spoken with a lot of the original actors from the original series they all maintain they weren’t asked to be in it? I know Amanda Barrie once told me that she couldn’t understand why they weren’t approached?
PF: I know I wasn’t approached but yes, that does seem strange. I admit I have not seen that one all the way through. That is the one with Julian Clary in it isn’t it?
CP: Yes, and the alternative comedians they brought into it.
PF: The trouble is that the ‘Carry On’s’ are on TV all the time and are so well known all over the world. It was always going to be hard for anyone coming into a revival as people would simply be comparing them to the original team.
CP: So, you don’t think we will ever see a new ‘Carry On’ film as is often muted every few years?
PF: Well, would modern day comedians want to do it? Could they do it? Who would you cast? That period in comedy and those films required different skills to what we have now. It was the skills of the people involved which is why they remain so popular today.
CP: Does the continued interest in the series surprise you?
PF: It does, particularly after all these years when fans still want to meet myself at conventions. I am amazed that something I did all those years ago, often only small parts and made over two or three weeks, are remembered today.
PF: It does, particularly after all these years when fans still want to meet myself at conventions. I am amazed that something I did all those years ago, often only small parts and made over two or three weeks, are remembered today.
Above (Top): Patricia with Derek Francis & Charles Hawtrey in 'Carry On Camping' (1969); Above (Bottom): Patricia as 'Mrs Dreery' alongside Bill Maynard in 'Carry On Loving' (1970).
Above (Top); Patricia in character as a zombie in 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004); Above (Bottom): As the shopkeeper in 'Hot Fuzz' (2007).
CP: So, from one successful film series to another…the ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ as they are affectionately known! How did you become involved in those?
PF: Oh yes (laughs). Well, the director, Edgar (Wright), was friends with David Walliams and they met my daughter at Glastonbury. They became friends and then Edgar and my daughter started dating. He was looking at making a new film. Edgar mentioned that her that he had been brought up on the ‘Carry On’s’ and my daughter obviously told them of my involvement in the series. I was doing small parts at the time and a lot of student films. Edgar asked my daughter if I would be interested and she said “oh, she will do anything!” (laughs). So, I was invited along to meet them. I read the script and thought it was VERY funny. I just thought that it was going to be another ‘student’ film. I had no idea, none of them did, of how big it would become.
CP: Being a huge ‘Zombie’ fan I love ‘Shaun of the Dead’, do you have any memories from making it?
PF: Oh yes (laughs). Well, the director, Edgar (Wright), was friends with David Walliams and they met my daughter at Glastonbury. They became friends and then Edgar and my daughter started dating. He was looking at making a new film. Edgar mentioned that her that he had been brought up on the ‘Carry On’s’ and my daughter obviously told them of my involvement in the series. I was doing small parts at the time and a lot of student films. Edgar asked my daughter if I would be interested and she said “oh, she will do anything!” (laughs). So, I was invited along to meet them. I read the script and thought it was VERY funny. I just thought that it was going to be another ‘student’ film. I had no idea, none of them did, of how big it would become.
CP: Being a huge ‘Zombie’ fan I love ‘Shaun of the Dead’, do you have any memories from making it?
PF: It was great fun to do! We did a lot of testing between takes on set trying out different zombie makeup and effects to see what would and wouldn’t work, that was great, We also took part in a ‘movement class’ to learn how to act and walk like a zombie!
CP: Do you have any other plans this year with it being the 60th Anniversary of ‘Carry On’?
PF: I am at a special event in Ealing in June actually.
CP: Yes, the ‘Whippet Inn’ are running a 60th event in Ealing on 3rd June. I am at the event, so I shall see you there!
PF: That’s the one! See you there!
My sincere thanks to Patricia for her time and for sharing her memories with me for this section of the website!
William 'Billy' Cornelius was born on 18th August 1934 in London. There is not a lot he has not covered in his career from professional boxing, acting, stunt work and running a series of successful businesses. He is probably best remembered by 'Carry On' fans in his role as 'Oddbod Junior' in 'Carry On Screaming' in 1966.
He is the younger brother of Joe Cornelius who was a professional Wrestler known as Joe 'The Dazzler' Cornelius. Joe also has 'Carry On' connections having appeared (as a wrestler funnily enough) in 'Carry On Loving' in 1970.
I had been trying to contact Billy for some years and wasn't even sure if he was still with us or with the great 'Carry On' in the sky. However, thankfully all that changed in Spring 2018....
It was with a lot of excitement that Billy was announced as a star guest at this year's 'Whippet Inn' event in London. This special event, for fans and star guests, was to celebrate 60 years of the film series (1958 - 2018). The 'Whippet Inn' team really pulled a gem out the bag with Billy! I had the pleasure of meeting Billy, asking him to sign about a million pieces of memorabilia (which he did without complaint or hesitation) and then had a rare chance to interview him for this website. I also got the opportunity to spend some time int he aftrenoon with Billy's wonderful family, including his wife and Grandson (who is carving out quite a career as a professional sports photographer in his own right).
Billy's family are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They were keen to promote Billy throughout the day as Billy was being a little modest at times about his involvement in the series and his main concern was that if he turned up nobody would know who he was! To that end his family brought along a huge black and white picture of Billy in character as 'Oddbod Junior' for him to hold and point out who he was! Needless to say he didn't need to do so as we all knew who Billy was...
Above: Billy & I at the 60th Anniversary of 'Carry On' 'Whippet Inn' in Ealing, London in June 2018.
It was also great to learn that his brother, Joe, was still with us at the ripe old age of 90. Although Joe is not in great health the family do see Joe a few times a year. Joe had lived in Cyprus for many years but has now moved back to the UK.
Throughout my 'Carry On' obsession (spanning about 30 years now) I have been so lucky to meet a lot of the stars of the films. A few of those stars are extra special and Billy is one of those people. A very warm and gentle man he is one of those people that you could actually sit and talk to all day.
His stories and anecdotes (not just about the 'Carry On's' but his fantastic life) are from an era long gone and leave you quite spellbound. He speaks about his life and career with such clarity that it is as though it only happend yesterday.
Below is a extract from the interview I did with him and his recollections from his time on the 'Carry On' films.
CP: Are you amazed at the reception you got at the event today?
BC: I am! I didn’t think anyone who know who I was!
CP: You have had quite a career, stuntman, actor and boxer.
BC: (Smiling) Well, I will tell you about my life. I started out at ‘the print’ at the ‘News of the World’ when I was 21. You had to be 21 to go into the print you see. I also had a shrimp and winkle round with my brother, Joe. From there I went into films and did stunt work and acting. After that I went into the pub trade and had three pubs; one in Tooting, one in Tenterden and one in Brixton.
CP: Not a lot you haven’t done then? So, tell me about the ‘Carry On’s, do you have any special memories about them?
BC: Everyone in them was so nice. They really were.
CP: How did you get on with Kenneth Williams as he had reputation for being, let’s say, a little difficult with newcomers?
BC: Kenneth was great. I remember on ‘Screaming’ he once came up to me and asked me what I had been up to the evening before. I said, ‘well, we went out for a drink and picked up a couple of bird’s’. ‘We had a few drinks then took them home, we all ended up in a cupboard’. Kenneth’s eyes lit up! He loved a gossip. He said ‘ooh, tell me more!’ and so I said, ‘I will tell you later as they are still in the cupboard!’. You could really gee him up. He was great. The only one I didn’t like much was Terry Scott. I was doing the stunts for him in ‘Up the Jungle’ and he had no time for you. Everyone else would welcome you and have a chat but he would simply turn up, maybe say ‘hello’ and then just ignore you.
BC: I am! I didn’t think anyone who know who I was!
CP: You have had quite a career, stuntman, actor and boxer.
BC: (Smiling) Well, I will tell you about my life. I started out at ‘the print’ at the ‘News of the World’ when I was 21. You had to be 21 to go into the print you see. I also had a shrimp and winkle round with my brother, Joe. From there I went into films and did stunt work and acting. After that I went into the pub trade and had three pubs; one in Tooting, one in Tenterden and one in Brixton.
CP: Not a lot you haven’t done then? So, tell me about the ‘Carry On’s, do you have any special memories about them?
BC: Everyone in them was so nice. They really were.
CP: How did you get on with Kenneth Williams as he had reputation for being, let’s say, a little difficult with newcomers?
BC: Kenneth was great. I remember on ‘Screaming’ he once came up to me and asked me what I had been up to the evening before. I said, ‘well, we went out for a drink and picked up a couple of bird’s’. ‘We had a few drinks then took them home, we all ended up in a cupboard’. Kenneth’s eyes lit up! He loved a gossip. He said ‘ooh, tell me more!’ and so I said, ‘I will tell you later as they are still in the cupboard!’. You could really gee him up. He was great. The only one I didn’t like much was Terry Scott. I was doing the stunts for him in ‘Up the Jungle’ and he had no time for you. Everyone else would welcome you and have a chat but he would simply turn up, maybe say ‘hello’ and then just ignore you.
CP: What was Charlie Hawtrey like?
BC: Again, he was great. He always turned up on set with a huge shopping bag full of goodies and carried it around with him!
CP: ‘Screaming’ is deemed one of the best of the series, did it take long to make you up as ‘Oddbod Junior’?
BC: Oh yes. It was about an hour and a half. It took ages and it was very hot. I remember one day I had to also stand in for Tommy Clegg (Tom Clegg was playing ‘Oddbod’ alongside Billy and was also a ‘Carry On regular’). Tommy had contracted Asian flu and was unwell, so I ended up having to swap into his outfit and makeup too. I was shattered!
CP: You were a professional boxer, another boxer who was also in the ‘Carry On’s’ was of course Freddie Mills. Did you know Freddie?
BC: Was he? Yes, Freddie. Well, in fact Freddie ended up threatening Joe at one point and was going to sue him! Joe would sometimes get mistaken for Freddie and once just went along with it. I can’t remember all the details, but it ended up with Freddie threatening to sue him, I remember that.
BC: Again, he was great. He always turned up on set with a huge shopping bag full of goodies and carried it around with him!
CP: ‘Screaming’ is deemed one of the best of the series, did it take long to make you up as ‘Oddbod Junior’?
BC: Oh yes. It was about an hour and a half. It took ages and it was very hot. I remember one day I had to also stand in for Tommy Clegg (Tom Clegg was playing ‘Oddbod’ alongside Billy and was also a ‘Carry On regular’). Tommy had contracted Asian flu and was unwell, so I ended up having to swap into his outfit and makeup too. I was shattered!
CP: You were a professional boxer, another boxer who was also in the ‘Carry On’s’ was of course Freddie Mills. Did you know Freddie?
BC: Was he? Yes, Freddie. Well, in fact Freddie ended up threatening Joe at one point and was going to sue him! Joe would sometimes get mistaken for Freddie and once just went along with it. I can’t remember all the details, but it ended up with Freddie threatening to sue him, I remember that.
Above: Billy at the 'Whippet Inn' event pointing out his alter ego from 'Carry On Screaming'.
CP: You always played tough guys, I’m guessing that was due to your career in boxing and build?
BC: Yes, I think it was. Although I will tell you a story…Many years later when I was up north I had a friend who had a farm. One morning I had been out for a run and got back home, showered and put clean clothes on. A short time later I got a call from y mate who said ‘Billy, I need your help on the farm’. A calf had died inside it’s mother and he needed to get it out. So, I went along with my wife and turned up at the farm. My mate ended up having to tie a rope around the calf inside the cow and pull it out. Well, that was it. I fainted. Fell clean back passed out into a pile of cowshit! All I remember my wife shouting was ‘Ooooh! And he’s got his clean clothes on ‘an all!’.
CP: (Howling) So not such a tough guy then?
BC: (Also laughing and shakes his head) ‘No!’.
BC: Yes, I think it was. Although I will tell you a story…Many years later when I was up north I had a friend who had a farm. One morning I had been out for a run and got back home, showered and put clean clothes on. A short time later I got a call from y mate who said ‘Billy, I need your help on the farm’. A calf had died inside it’s mother and he needed to get it out. So, I went along with my wife and turned up at the farm. My mate ended up having to tie a rope around the calf inside the cow and pull it out. Well, that was it. I fainted. Fell clean back passed out into a pile of cowshit! All I remember my wife shouting was ‘Ooooh! And he’s got his clean clothes on ‘an all!’.
CP: (Howling) So not such a tough guy then?
BC: (Also laughing and shakes his head) ‘No!’.
Above: Billy adds his autograph (or maybe his pawprint?) to some of my 'Carry On' signed DVD's.
My sincere thanks to Billy for his time and great anecdotes and to his family for all their time and great conversations at the event.
Julian Holloway has enjoyed a long and varied career spanning an impressive six decades. He made his theatrical debut in London's West End in the revue 'All Square' at the Vaudeville Theatre. Other West End credits include Christopher Hampton's first play 'When Did You Last See My Mother?' at the Comedy Theatre, Colin Spencer's 'Spitting Image' at the Duke of York's Theatre, replacing Michael Gambon in Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy 'The Norman Conquests' at the Globe Theatre and a successful revival of 'Arsenic And Old Lace' at the Westminster Theatre.
In 1967 he performed in his first 'Carry On' venture, 'Carry On Follow that Camel'. This was the start of a long relationship with the series with 'Carry On England' in 1976 being his last. He also starred in 3 of the most iconic of the series; 'Camping', 'Khyber' and 'Henry', with many deeming 'Khyber' the very best 'Carry On' film (it was also Producer Peter Rogers' personal favourite too). Many believe that as he played the role of 'Jim Tanner' in 1969's 'Carry On Camping' that he was dubbed to take over the main romantic male lead roles presumably originally written with Jim Dale in mind. However, this is not the case as there is in fact some overlap where both appeared in the series ('Doctor' & 'Camel').
I had in fact corresponded with Julian several times over the past few years and he was always such a joy to hear from and an all round nice chap. Although he was based in the USA this didn't stop me sending him a few pieces of 'Carry On' memorabilia for him to sign being the die hard fan I am! I was therefore thrilled to learn that Julian was back in the UK in November 2018. He in fact took part in his first ever UK film convention in London in November 2018. Seizing the opportunity I was over the moon to get the chance to interview him a few days afterwards. So, it is 'Time for Tiffin' and a chat with Julian about a goat and all things 'Carry On'...
CP: It is remarkable that it is in fact the 60th anniversary this year (2018) of the ‘Carry On’s’. Why do you think they are still so popular?
JH: Well, they are always on the TV and are therefore free to watch. They are basically cheap entertainment I suppose and don’t cost anything to watch, but I really don’t know!
CP: Out of the ones you were involved with, which was your favourite and why?
JH: ‘Khyber’ is the only one that I have any affection for. It was great fun to do with a great script. I think the historical ones with the period costumes were the best. They were actually filming ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ whilst we were filming ‘Khyber’. As with most things on the Carry On’s it was done very cheaply, and I think everything was stolen! (laughs), possibly from the ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ sets. That was Peter Rogers for you; he was fearless!
CP: Were there any that you simply didn’t enjoy?
JH: ‘Camping’. It was a miserable shoot. It was a bad time of the year and all the stories of painting the trees and spraying the grass are totally true. I had some scenes in that film with Trisha Noble, we had a lot of romance scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor. Take the part at the end of the film with the goat, it makes absolutely no sense because the additional scenes with the goat were cut. I was supposed to rescue Trisha from the shower block from this man-eating goat as it traps her in there. If they had left that in it would have made slightly more sense with the end scene where it chases Amelia Bayntun. I was also overwhelmed with work at that stage as I was also doing a play in the evenings. I remember Kenneth Williams saying to me on that shoot not to hang around. He said, “Don’t let the stigma of the Carry On’s attach itself to you”.
CP: Were there any that you were offered but declined?
JH: Yes. I cannot remember if it was ‘Abroad’ or ‘Girls’ It was one of the two. I turned it down anyway and then my agent got a message from the Casting Director to say that if I didn’t do the film I would never work with Peter Rogers again! I said, OK, fine by me and I still didn't do it.
CP: You speak of Kenneth and his advice to you on ‘Camping’, it is of course also the 30th anniversary of his death this year (2018). What was Kenneth like?
JH: We got on fabulously. We got on very well indeed. He could be spiky but that was his insecurity. He was totally different once he was out of the spotlight. His knowledge of English poetry was outstanding.
CP: When did you last see him?
JH: I bumped into him in a recording studio. He actually noted it in his diary. It would have been 1987/1988.
CP: So not long before he died?
JH: No, not at all.
CP: How about Charles Hawtrey? There doesn't seem to be as much known about him in comparison to some of the others in the main team? Did you have much to do with Charlie?
JH: I'm afraid I can't add anything regarding Charlie. I really didn't have that much to do with him, on either side of the camera. Although he was an avid member of Sid's poker school and seemed to always lose! The only thing that was hysterical, was in 'Khyber' when he was marched in to see Sid and me, he stood smartly to attention, took off his pith helmet and his "rug" stood straight up in the air! (as it had become unglued from it's moorings). He was blissfully unaware of what had happened and we were all shaking with laughter and Gerry Thomas printed the take, so we could all see it at the 'rushes' the following day. It's really the visual that's so funny and I have no idea whether it was saved in the 'out takes' archives.
Above: The role of 'Jim Tanner' in 'Carry On Camping' was originally a much larger part. Part of the role centred around a romance with fellow co-star Trisha Noble who played 'Sally', one of the 'Chayste Place' girls. The scenes above, including the one with the goat trapping 'Sally' in the shower cubicle, were cut from the final film and ended up on the cutting room floor.
Both black and white pictures here were kindly provided by Julian and, it is believed, have never before been shown or published.
CP: You had a 3 year gap between doing ‘Carry On Christmas’ and ‘Carry On England’; was that deliberate?
JH: I have no idea why I did it (Carry On Christmas). With ‘England’ I was doing a theatre tour and needed the money to be honest. That is the only reason I did it to top up the money. The material was dreadful though. By that stage Rogers was trying to compete with the ‘Confessions’ films and it was pathetic. We had gone from seaside postcard to full down and dirty.
CP: The ‘Carry On’s’ still managed to draw some pretty big names though, such as Phil Silvers and Elke Sommer?
JH: Well, in my opinion ‘Bilko’ was one of the best TV shows ever. They had seriously good writers and he (Phil Silvers) had a good team around him. I think he did ‘Follow That Camel’ when his career was on a bit of a downwards spiral, he would never have accepted it in his prime. I think they paid him £30,000 for it which was peanuts compared to what he would have been getting for ‘Bilko’ in his heyday.
CP: It has been suggested that it was to try and appeal to audiences in the USA?
JH: Maybe but it didn’t work. People always say how many years earlier ‘Carry On Nurse’ was a huge success in the USA but that is because it was the only one that they released there! It was popular because it was a one off and they hadn’t seen anything like it before but it’s success was measured on it being the only ‘Carry On’ to have been released in the USA.
CP: There was a notable change in the films from the late 1970’s. Did you see the last film; ‘Carry On Emmannuelle’?
JH: Nope, never seen it.
CP: Do you think that the magic had gone by then?
JH: No question about it. Rogers always used to say that the title ‘Carry On’ was the star, that was just a cosy way of him getting off paying us big money. Take poor Joan Sims. I understand that she died virtually destitute – that should never have happened. Had we been in America and have had the Screen Actors Guild it would have been very different. We even went to Equity in the 1960’s. It took them another 30 years to make the changes to protect actors in a similar position. They didn’t make the changes until 1993. Tolly Rothwell (Scriptwriter) worked very cheaply, I think he was paid about £3000 a pop, appalling money. The jokes just became predictable and they were constantly reusing them from the bottom draw.
CP: So, when they attempted to resurrect the series in 1992 with ‘Carry On Columbus’ were you approached? Would you have done it?
JH: No, I was in America by then and when I became a man I put away childish things! (laughs). I made my thoughts plain way back that I was not in the market to do anymore. It wasn’t even a consideration. The quality of some of the work on the ‘Carry On’s’ was iffy at best. I am not remotely proud of my involvement in the films.
CP: Did you keep in touch with any of the core team after you had finished?
JH: Not per se. Barbara (Windsor) and I bumped into each other here and there, but I didn’t really keep in touch with anyone. Of course, on the films we were all together and it was great but after we finished we went our own way. I have stayed in touch with dear Angela Douglas and indeed went to her book launch at Hatchards a few weeks ago.
CP: It was great to see you on ‘Carry On Forever’ though a few years ago.
JH: Yes, they sent a crew over to interview me in the States. Well, I was very to the point and didn’t hold back about the films during the interview for ‘Forever’. ITV didn’t want that though it and it was cleverly edited together. It was horribly bland to be honest.
CP: So, you are back in the UK for the time being, will we be seeing you in the West End or on the TV anytime soon?
JH: Theatre, no. I’m done with that. It is a young man’s game. TV, yes. I did a bit in Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Summer of Rockets’ for the BBC that should be on, I think, in the New Year.
My sincere thanks to Julian for his time, for sharing his memories with me and for providing the unseen pictures from 'Carry On Camping' above.
Kenneth Charles Cope was born on 14th April 1931. He is an English actor best known for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in 'Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)', Jed Stone in 'Coronation Street' and Ray Hilton in 'Brookside'. He has also guest starred in four episodes of 'Casualty', as well as taking roles in 'The Bill', 'Waking the Dead', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Minder' and 'Kavanagh QC'.
Of course many 'Carry On' fans will remember him as Vic Spanner in 'Carry On At Your Convenience' (1971), the obnoxious shop steward central to the film's trade union and industrial problems storyline and rival in the film's romantic sub-plot.
In 'Carry On Matron' (1972) he took the more sympathetic role of Cyril Carter, the son of a thief (Sid James) who is forced to impersonate a female nurse as part of his father's attempt to rob a maternity hospital of its birth control pills!
In January 2019 I had the pleasure of interviewing Kenneth all about his career and involvement in the 'Carry On' series;
CP: How are you?
KC: I’m OK thank you. I had to have an operation as I had a problem with my aorta. I should have had it done years ago. It is the same thing that Bruce Forsyth had. It’s a slow recovery but I am getting there.
CP: I am sorry to hear that but it sounds like you are on the mend!
KC: I am, thank you.
CP: You have had such a long and wonderful career, which I will go into more a bit later, but I will start with the obvious; what was it like to work on the ‘Carry On’s’?
KC: It was fantastic. It really was seen as a leg up at the time if you were asked to do a 'Carry On', it really was and that is the truth. I was very lucky having come from a working-class background to be trained at The Bristol Old Vic. It wasn’t how it is these days of course. You had to pass an audition and then, if successful, get a grant, which I did. God, you learnt so much! Being asked to do a 'Carry On' really was an honour.
CP: Now, I need you to settle an argument; were you in ‘Carry On Jack’?
KC: No, I wasn’t in it.
CP: It is widely believed that you had a supporting role in it as one of the sailors?
KC: No, how dare you! (laughs). No, I never did any extra work or background roles like that. I wasn’t in 'Carry On Jack'.
CP: ‘Convenience’ & ‘Matron’ were in the ‘Golden Era’ of the ‘Carry On’s’. What are your memories of being in them?
KC: It just felt so good being in them. I will never forget the kindness they (the core team) gave to me. I remember that when I did the first one (‘Convenience’), Sid, God bless him, was watching me deliver my lines off camera. He was just nodding and smiling, he was so encouraging. I had a lot more lines with long speeches in ‘Convenience’ and it was hard work.
Above: Kenneth adds his autograph to my 'Carry On At Your Convenience' DVD sleeve.
CP: Talking of ‘Convenience’; It is one of my favourites I have to say but I understand that it wasn’t particularly well received at the time due to the subject matter?
KC: Yes, I believe it was because of the ‘strikes’ and Trade Union theme.
CP: The wonderful Renée Houston of course played your mum, she was a wonderful actress.
KC: (laughs) She was, yes. I still remember her spanking my bum! I also remember at the very end of the film that I ad-libbed. It is the scene where the new young lady employee walks around the corner looking for directions. Looking at her chest as I escorted her in, I said “Oh yes, we have a lovely pair of canteens ‘ere” I just said it and it was kept in!
CP: ‘Matron’ is of course also a well-loved entry in the series. What was it like doing ‘Matron’? Any special memories?
KC: Jacki (Piper) and Barbara (Windsor) were lovely, truly wonderful. I had immense fun on ‘Matron’ being dressed as a female nurse stealing birth control pills and being chased around by Terry Scott! I always remember that during a break from filming I went to the loo. Of course, I used the gents and so I go in dressed as this female nurse and there was a big black guy in there already, I will never forget his face, I think he thought his luck was in!
CP: What were the core team like to work with?
KC: Well, as I said, Sid was wonderful, he really was. I got on well with Kenny (Williams) too and used to sit with him and do the crossword. I knew Bernie (Bresslaw) sociably before the Carry On’s as we used to go out together for meals. I had lunch with Hattie everyday on 'Matron' and she was great. Charles Hawtrey was a bit of a loner. He was wonderful on set and knew his lines but after a scene he would be sat on his own. Both Gerald (Thomas) and Peter (Rogers) were lovely men and really listened to you if you had any ideas, they both looked after you.
CP: ‘Matron’ was your last; were you asked to do anymore or had you moved on?
KC: I honestly can’t remember. I’m not sure why I didn’t do anymore. I think the series was starting to slow down a bit by then?
CP: It is incredible that last year marked the ‘60th’ anniversary of ‘Carry On’. Why do you think that they are still so popular all these years later?
KC: They were seaside postcard humour and are easy laughs. The people in them came from variety and were incredibly talented. They knew not to hog the limelight or overstep the mark. Unfortunately, in the later ones, a few of the newer, younger members that they drafted in did.
CP: You mentioned the lovely Jacki Piper earlier. I actually saw Jacki again at an event for the ‘60th’ last year. She never seems to change!
KC: Oh, did you? How lovely. Please pass on my best to her when you see her again. She was lovely to work with.
Above: My signed still from 'Carry On Matron' with Kenneth as 'Nurse Carter' alongside the late Bill Maynard, Sid James & Bernard Bresslaw.
CP: There are always rumours of a revival of the ‘Carry On’ films, could they ever bring them back?
KC: If you have not got people like Sid (James) and Kenny (Williams) it would never work. So, no, it just wouldn’t work.
CP: You have also been a soap star over the years, from ‘Coronation Street’ to ‘Brookside’. What was that like?
KC: When I first did ‘Coronation Street’ it was supposed to be as a one-off character. I was this thug going around threatening people with a knife! (Kenneth then starts to recite his lines from as his character ‘Jed Stone’ from his stint in the show in the 1960’s and he remembers these lines perfectly after almost 50 years!). These days so many stars have big egos. I never had and would crucify anyone who was rude or selfish. I remember once on ‘Coronation Street’ that we were filming outside and it was freezing. All the extras were stood in the cold for ages and so between takes I would wander over to them and have a chat with them. I don’t mention that for any self-gratification but I just think that is how it should be?
CP: It seems that these days anyone thinks that they can have their ’15 minutes of fame’ and many have the very ego you talk about?
KC: Well, I no longer do anything in the business as I don’t like how things are run these days. I mean back when I trained and became an actor we would, for example, have a Props Master who looked after all the props and was responsible for them, even down to trying doors and the like to make sure they worked properly ahead of an entrance. They tested everything and looked after the basics. That has all gone.
CP: You also worked with Ned Sherrin and David Frost, amongst others, on ‘That Was The Week That Was’.
KC: Yes. One of the memories that I will never forget was being flown to Madison Square Garden to redo a show we had done. It was when President Kennedy had died. It was supposed to all be part of a tribute and there we were doing comedy! Those sorts of memories are the ones that you remember. I always remember that years later they had Ned (Sherrin) on ‘This is Your Life’. It was after Eamon Andrews when Michael Aspel was presenting it (the show referred to was broadcast by the BBC in February 1995). Ned and I had worked together for many years and so, as a guest, I was asked by Michael what had attracted me to Ned in the first place and what skills did the relationship involve? I simply replied ‘Our memories Eamon!’. It raised a laugh at the time!
CP: I have to mention ‘Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)’. A wonderful show that is still popular and well-remembered? What are your memories of working on the show?
KC: Michael Pratt and I just gelled. We had never met previously but we got on so well. Michael wrote and we had such a great relationship that we would just change lines and we were both on the same wavelength. That was such a lucky, lucky thing. I also did some of the writing too and I did really well out of it financially.
CP: Do you still write now?
KC: Yes, begging letters mainly! (laughs).
CP: They resurrected it in 2000-2001 with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, were you asked to take part?
KC: I was asked but to be honest I had got so much out of it financially previously that I really felt guilty trying to go back and take more.
CP: What did you think of the revival?
KC: I didn’t mind the new version but I think it was miscast. They should have had the smaller fella (Bob Mortimer) playing the ghost, he would have been much better as the ghost.
CP: With your involvement in so many cult TV shows and films will we be seeing you at any of the TV and film conventions in the future?
KC: To be honest, no. They have all become so commercialised. I don’t want to do any if I am honest. I get asked but I can’t be bothered. I did do a few ‘Dr Who’ conventions a few years ago but nothing recently.
CP: Just happily retired?
KC: Hmmm..well, yeah, I guess I am. I don’t know, I might do another one at some stage.
Above: Kenneth adds his autograph to my 'Carry On Matron' DVD sleeve.
CP: Well, I know that there are a lot of fans who would love to see you at one but fully appreciate your point about many now being very commercial affairs.
KC: Ah, that is sweet. Would they? Well, I don’t know. I may at some stage!
My sincere thanks to Kenneth Cope for giving up his time to talk to me about his career and memories of the 'Carry On's'!
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